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A brave teenager cut off her long ponytail to give to a charity that makes wigs for children who have lost their own hair through illness.

Rheanna Mckenzie faced the scissors at the WWW.Comb salon, in Victoria Road, Ruislip, in aid of the Little Princess Trust.

After asking to look like Frankie Sandford, from The Saturdays, the 16-year-old watched as her hair went from reaching nearly down to her midriff to barely covering her ears.

But the Stockley Academy student said: “It's only hair.”

She added: “I decided to have my hair cut short for charity after my friend’s mum lost her battle with cancer.

“It was very hard and I thought it must be much worse for a child to go through that.”

Rheanna, of Great Benty, West Drayton, had called the salon to ask how much it would cost for a graduate to cut and style her hair.

But when staff found out why she wanted it done, they offered to do the work without charge.

Owner Lisa Meredith said: “I made sure that Rheanna was 100% certain that she wanted to go as short as Frankie from the Saturdays.

“Rheanna is a beautiful young girl and the style really suits her. Obviously it will take a little getting used to and she can come back any time for advice and help on how to wear her new style.”

Rheanna's ponytail will now be sent to the charity's factory in China, where it can take up to five hair donations to make a single wig.

On top of her donation, Rheanna has so far raised £322 for the charity.

She said: “I really like my new hairstyle. The team did a great job.”